The SEC has no shortage of quality freshmen, and Auburn’s Mustapha Heron might be the best not in a Kentucky uniform. (Getty)

By the way, all-conference teams should include no more than five players to remain consistent with the All-America teams and because it’s just common sense.

The SEC is in no shortage of quality freshmen, and Auburn’s Mustapha Heron might be the best not in a Kentucky uniform.

The addition of Heron has a lot of people in Auburn, Alabama, excited about basketball for Bruce Pearl’s third season. Pearl finished his third season at Tennessee in 2008 with a 31-5 campaign and the schools’ first trip to the top of the AP poll. Could year three with Auburn finally represent the breakout year the Tigers have been waiting on?

No matter what happens, Auburn has something all of us wish we had – a giant bronze statue of Charles Barkley.

Even with Heron suiting up for the Tigers, there isn’t a reasonable scenario where Auburn finishes any higher than 12th.

If Arkansas is left out of the field on Selection Sunday, it will be the age-old “not enough quality wins on its resume” argument that provides the reason.

The Razorbacks play only one preseason top 50 KenPom team (Texas) on its non-conference schedule.

Arkansas is always strong at home at Bud Walton Arena, but Florida is likely the best opponent making a trip to Fayetteville this year.

If you’re keeping count — that’s potentially three SEC coaches who won’t be around after the 2016-17 season.

One SEC coach is on his way in, however, as new Vanderbilt head coach Bryce Drew is bringing high hopes along after a 30-win season at Valparaiso. Vandy might be happy with just 25 wins (a feat it last accomplished in 2012).

According to KenPom, Drew’s last Crusaders team fielded a top-10 defense, which has to excite Commodores’ fans with the level of shooting that returns in Nashville. Both Matthew Fisher-Davis and Jeff Roberson shot over 45 percent from behind the arc last year.

Just imagine if Riley LaChance shoots like it’s 2014 again.

Vanderbilt has the opportunity to tip off the season with quality wins in neutral site games against Marquette and Butler before December.

Last year’s Tennessee team was the first time ever that a Rick Barnes team finished with a sub-100 KenPom defense.

Barnes’ last Texas team in 2014-15 finished first in two-point defense percentage and first in block percentage.

Avery Johnson’s second Alabama team will be slightly better than his first, even with the loss of Retin Obasohan. Expect to see the Crimson Tide compete in some games we wouldn’t necessarily expect.

Ben Howland’s second Mississippi State team will be slightly better than his first, but don’t expect a big jump until year three.

The SEC lacks the overall star power (outside of Kentucky) that it had last year, but 2016-17 is still shaping up to be a fun year for both college basketball and SEC fans.

One response to “64 Thoughts on the the 2016-17 SEC Season: Part II”

Missouri = hopeless is an understatement. Missouri basketball will be atrocious this year. That is an understatement. In no way, shape, or form should there be any team that lose to the Tigers hailing from the University of Missouri.